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This Phase II clinical trial was designed for patients with hematologic malignancies in need of donor peripheral blood stem cell transplant, and have no HLA matched donor. Therefore It will test the efficacy of combining sirolimus, tacrolimus, antithymocyte globulin, and rituximab in preventing graft versus host disease in transplants from HLA Haploidentical and partially mismatched donors.

OUTLINE: Patients receive rituximab IV on days -7 and 3, tacrolimus IV continuously (may switch to orally when the patient is able to eat) and oral sirolimus beginning on day -3, and anti-thymocyte globulin IV over 6 hours on days -3 to -1. Tacrolimus and sirolimus are tapered at the discretion of the treating physician.

All patients also receive a standard transplant-preparative regimen and undergo transplantation on day 0.

Blood samples are collected before the preparative regimen and at 30, 60, 90, and 180 days after transplantation for correlative immunologic studies.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up for 2 years.

anti-thymocyte globulin: Infuse the first dose over a minimum of 6 hours, and subsequent doses over a minimum of 4 hours via a 0.22 micron in-line filter

Rituximab: The total dose chosen for this protocol is 28 mg/kg divided in two doses (14 mg/kg on days -7 and +3). Initial infusion: Start rate of 50 mg/hour;

For adults, Sirolimus will be administered at 12 mg orally loading dose on day -3, followed by 4 mg orally single morning daily dose (target serum level 3-12 ng/ml by HPLC).

Tacrolimus will be administered intravenously at a dose of 0.03 mg/kg (ideal body weight) q 24h by continuous infusion starting on Day -3. Intravenous Tacrolimus will be discontinued once the patient starts eating and the drug will then be given orally at a dose of approximately 4 times the intravenous dose.

Biological: anti-thymocyte globulin

Infuse the first dose over a minimum of 6 hours, and subsequent doses over a minimum of 4 hours via a 0.22 micron in-line filter.

Biological: rituximab

The total dose chosen for this protocol is 28 mg/kg divided in two doses (14 mg/kg on days -7 and +3). Initial infusion: Start rate of 50 mg/hour; if there is no reaction, increase the rate by 50 mg/hour increments every 30 minutes, to a maximum rate of 400 mg/hour. Subsequent infusions: If patient did not tolerate initial infusion follow initial infusion guidelines. If patient tolerated initial infusion, start at 100 mg/hour; if there is no reaction, increase the rate by 100 mg/hour increments every 30 minutes, to a maximum rate of 400 mg/hour. Note: If a reaction occurs, slow or stop the infusion. If the reaction abates, restart infusion at 50% of the previous rate.

In patients who tolerated the Rituximab well in the past, a rapid infusion rate can be used over 90 minutes with 20% of the dose administered in the first 30 minutes and the remaining 80% is given over 60 minutes.

Other Name: Rituxan®

Drug: sirolimus

For adults, Sirolimus will be administered at 12 mg orally loading dose on day -3, followed by 4 mg orally single morning daily dose (target serum level 3-12 ng/ml by HPLC).

Other Name: Rapamune®

Drug: tacrolimus

Tacrolimus will be administered intravenously at a dose of 0.03 mg/kg (ideal body weight) q 24h by continuous infusion starting on Day -3. Intravenous Tacrolimus will be discontinued once the patient starts eating and the drug will then be given orally at a dose of approximately 4 times the intravenous dose.

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